Aramex, an Emirati multinational logistics and courier services provider is a true example of the success of entrepreneurship in the Middle East. Founded in 1982 by Fadi Ghandour and Bill Kingson, the company started its journey in Amman, Jordan, towards building a courier service in the region. It was quite ambitious and bold, to say the least, since it attempted to establish a courier company in the Middle East when the region was generally more characterized by political instability and other associated logistical challenges than benefits that it would bring. Despite these odds, Aramex was successful and made history as the first company coming out of the Arab region listed on NASDAQ stock exchange in 1997. Today, it stands as one of the logistics leaders, with its headquarters situated in Dubai, UAE, employing around 18,000 people across 70 countries.

Fadi Ghandour teamed up with his father’s friend, Bill Kingson, and formed a company in New York after he completed his BA in political science at George Washington University. They saw that there was an enormous opportunity for the kind of logistics company that they had in mind to fill the gap in the Middle Eastern market because of the immense political and bureaucratic complexities that characterized international courier services in that region. They ran the business as Arab American Express, which they soon changed to Aramex. The story of growth of Aramex is itself a sensational one. In 1984, the company’s revenues had touched just below USD 1 million, and in 1997, Aramex became the first Arab-based company to trade its shares on an American stock exchange—NASDAQ. Valued at USD 24 million in the IPO, they raised a whopping USD 7 million. This was also a pioneering time both for Aramex and the broader Middle Eastern entrepreneurial ecosystem, as it proved that companies out of the region could also keep pace and succeed in global contexts.

During the early 2000s, Aramex had quite aggressive expansion with a focus on high-growth markets in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. By 2001, the company had built operations in 120 locations across 33 countries. In 2002, Abraaj Capital, a private equity firm, bought a majority share in Aramex through a leveraged buyout in order to enable Kingson and Airborne Express to step down; Ghandour held on to 25% of the shares. It went public for the second time on the Dubai Financial Market in 2005, raising USD 270 million in its initial public offering and setting up for future growth.

Aramex has always been successful due to good partnerships. It landed Federal Express (FedEx) as one of its biggest customers during its early years through the 1980s. Once DHL acquired Airborne Express in 2003, Aramex joined Global Distribution Alliance (GDA), an association of 40 express companies, with revenues more than USD 7.5 billion. GDA helped to make a ground presence for Aramex worldwide and also supported it in defending the position in the international market. Other critical reasons that have immensely contributed towards growth are the acquisition strategies. It has acquired South Africa’s Berco Express, Australian-based Mail Call Couriers, and New Zealand-based Fastway Couriers. Each one helped increase Aramex’s market footprint as it was able to make deliveries to different geographies.

Innovation has been at the center of Aramex’s growth. In 2012, Aramex launched REDe, a solution designed to aid companies in the transition to online selling by increasing the support to logistics for the e-commerce sector. Additionally, Aramex partnered with PayPal as it needed to reach new markets, thus proving that it meant business about employing technological know-how to spur the organization’s growth. Furthermore, the launch of its Aramex Bio medical courier in 2014 further helped extend the logistics player into niche-logistics sectors such as health care. Such innovations have not only diversified the services provided by Aramex but have also mirrored its ability to adapt and be forward-thinking in such a rapidly changing environment for logistics.

Aramex has also made some big moves toward sustainability. In 2006, it became the first company in the region to publish an annual sustainability report under the slogan: “Commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility”. In 2007, Aramex joined the United Nations Global Compact, aligning business practices with the principles of responsible business practice. As a compliment to these endeavours, Aramex has also invested its time into community development through Ruwwad Al Tanmeya, which focuses on the empowerment of youths and community development through education and civic engagement.

Othman Aljeda is now the CEO of Aramex, making it sustainably take place in a competitive market. This year 2021, GeoPost, a subsidiary company of French Groupe La Poste acquired a 20.15% stake in Aramex to show that they do well believe in the company’s scope for the future, international collaboration, and also to gain an international foothold. Such an investment will be of great service in enabling Aramex to tread its way more strongly into other important zones, especially Europe.

Founded under the patronage of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan through Law No. 6 of 1982, Emirates Insurance Company (EIC) has grown to become a fortified pillar in the UAE’s insurance market for nearly four decades. From starting out as a single branch in Abu Dhabi to more than 30 offices across the country and over 250 skilled professionals, EIC has traveled a long way. As a semi-government organization, EIC combines public service ethos with commercial expertise in order to meet the best insurance solutions for its customers and ensure sustainable shareholder returns. In this context, it stands as the leader among the largest insurers in the UAE and has set the benchmark for growth, innovation, and service in the region.

The Emirates Insurance Company supports its growth for not only itself but also for its shareholders. In order to gain such a milestone, the company thoroughly measures each business opportunity by risk and cost. With a disciplined underwriting strategy, sound management of the cycle, and effective resources, EIC aims not to be less profitable but to expand the reach in every sector of insurance. By focusing on economic profit, EIC builds a solid foundation-the stronger it is for consumers and other stakeholders to conduct business with. In the insurance line, stability is paramount. Emirates Insurance adopts an all-around approach to minimize investment volatility while maximizing attractive risk-adjusted returns. EIC has established an diversified portfolio of investments as opportunities are grasped while major downside exposure is mitigated against. This will ensure that even under very volatile market conditions, the company will still be able to achieve sustainable earnings as well as maintain good service to its clients.

Rapid growth in the UAE economy and shifting risk landscapes offer Emirates Insurance all the opportunities it needs to further consolidate its position in the insurance industry of the UAE as a fully-fledged national insurer. EIC takes these opportunities by expanding to new markets within the UAE and launching new products for its existing markets. It is a customer-centric company that, not only wants to penetrate deeper with the current set of customers but also to lure the new customer base through their offerings. The company’s capability related to asset management and the more specialized in-house developed risk models would add significant value for clients. People are at the heart of Emirates Insurance success. The company has nurtured its commitment to fostering a results orientation culture, through which it has experienced organizational excellence. Very skilled professionals who are committed to providing top-quality insurance solutions form EIC’s team. Cross-functional teams will ensure that the company work environment is an innovation and collaboration zone, which in itself can have positive effects on clients in terms of improved service but would assist with effective risk control, disciplined underwriting, and transparency, thereby resultant on sustainable returns on earnings for shareholders.

EIC International was formed in 2012 using a vision to extend Emirates Insurance’s operations beyond the UAE. The international wing has initially had facultative capacity offered to the Afro-Asian energy and marine markets and has subsequently taken up the non-marine reinsurance business line. EIC has positioned itself as a regional player that is capable of successfully addressing the diverse needs of clients originating from various industries by complementing its existing retail domestic business with cross-border offerings. Emirates Insurance places its highest emphasis on delivering best-in-class customer service. Effectively, this customer-first approach drives the initiatives that develop effective insurance solutions to fit the needs of their clients. Atop of all customer service, it helps build loyalty to clients on one end and sets them high in the industry on the other.

Emirates Insurance has integrated ERM to facilitate sustainable growth. ERM represents the method of sustaining the company’s competitive advantage while attempting to maximize costs of the management of risks through generating business excellence. The corporation has always kept track and adjusted its appetite regarding both insurance and investment risks in the quest for high-quality services and stability within a competitive market.

Emirates Insurance Company Envision to be a balanced national leader in the industry by combining professional capabilities and expertise with customer focus for profitable growth. The mission of the company is to lead as a national insurance company with international standards of performance, providing competitive products and superior profitability. Combining aggressive selling, performance-based culture, and uncompromising risk management, EIC maintains its position as one of the leaders in the United Arab Emirate’s insurance market.

Waha Capital is one of those investment management companies listed in the stocks of Abu Dhabi. With expertise in emerging markets, strong business networks, and comprehensive research capabilities, this company ensures attractive returns to shareholders and investors in its funds. Waha Capital was founded in 1997 and has positioned itself as the leading investment house within the private sector in the Emirate. The company has a proven track record of investing in public and private markets and deploying proprietary capital that taps third-party investors.

The Public Markets business is headed by Waha Investment PrJSC, a wholly-owned subsidiary. Waha Investment provides actively managed funds to sophisticated investors that have an emerging market credit and equities focus. With a disciplined approach to investing, Waha Capital implements differentiated strategies that collectively serve to produce stable, market-leading returns. And as for the Private Investments segment, it has a multi-asset investment strategy that is strongly driven by direct investments. The group has flexibility to invest into multiple sectors and geographies and enjoy its good international business networks that will allow the access to sourcing deals and establishing co-investment partnerships.

Apart from the traditional investment strategies, Waha Capital is specially and actively involved in real estate through its Waha Land business. The division develops and leases industrial and logistics facilities at ALMARKAZ within Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region. This strategic step converts the UAE’s broadening industrial infrastructure base into institutional-grade assets while expanding the portfolio as a means of long-term value creation. Initiatives by Waha Capital are focused on sustainable growth, and it also reinforces its position in Abu Dhabi’s fast-moving and entrepreneurial ecosystem, which can provide long-term value to shareholders, fund investors, employees, and the community.

Waha Capital operates from a culture of shared values that gives importance to performance, collaboration, accountability, ambition, and integrity. These values help the company remain focused during this fast-paced industry and deliver synergies across teams. The company motivates hard work and good results and, therefore, promotes teamwork in working toward common objectives. There must be cooperation at all levels, but the only way success shall be ensured is by the operation of people, yet accountability remains a foundational aspect of the company’s way of doing business—each activity is put up for scrutiny before investors and shareholders.

Its commitment to integrity ensures that its operation is at all times in line with the best-in-class industry standards for the protection and growth of investments. Ambition makes Waha Capital pursue nothing short of the best. Waha Capital is working to become a global player in emerging markets and is dedicated to providing solid returns on an enduring basis for its shareholders and investment partners. Committing to steady return levels, they have a well-experienced investment professionals’ team possessing in-depth market analysis and an international network that spans the globe.

As a company listed on the Abu Dhabi Exchange, Waha Capital adheres to strict corporate governance principles that allow it to chart its way. This ensures that investor confidence in the firm is promoted, and the firm is positioned as a reliable partner to those seeking attractive returns. The diversified business approach of the company is availed by the combination of public investments and private investments to provide a full-fledged investment strategy focusing on meeting different needs of clients effectively.